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Dental Terminology
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The following dental terms have been generally defined. For a more detailed definition or explanation of a procedure, we advise you to contact your personal care dentist. Your dentist can best determine the care that you will need.
Abutment: The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. They are the part of the bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth.
Amalgam Restorations: Silver filling. Amalgams are usually placed on the back teeth.
Anterior: The front teeth.
Apicoectomy: Surgical Root Canal Therapy.
Bicuspid: The first and second bicuspids are the fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the back teeth that are used for chewing; they only have two cusps.
Bitewing: X-ray that shows the upper and lower teeth?s biting surfaces on the same film. This x-ray shows the portion of the teeth above the gum line.
Composite Filling: See Resin Restorations.
Crown Restorations: An artificial tooth or cap, which covers a fractured tooth or one weakened by decay.
Dental Prophylaxis: Cleaning the teeth. Procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus, and stains. Also known as a prophy.
Dental Sealants: Clear application of acrylic placed over the biting surface of the tooth to prevent decay.
Fluoride Treatments: Topical application of a gel or liquid that prevents decay.
Inlay Restorations: A laboratory-processed filling/restoration made of metal or porcelain. This filling does not involve the high points of the tooth.
Intraoral: Inside the mouth.
Molar: The first, second and third molars, they are the sixth, seventh, and eighth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. The back teeth with the large chewing surface on top. They have four cusps.
Onlay Restorations: A laboratory-processed restoration made of metal or porcelain that replaces one or more of the highest points of the tooth.
Oral Surgery: The dental specialty limited to the surgical removal of teeth, and the treatment of disease, deformities, and defects of the jaws and associated structures.
Orthodontics: The dental specialty dealing with the alignment of teeth, usually through the use of braces.
Panoramic film: X-ray taken outside of the mouth that shows all the teeth on one film.
Perio Scaling and Root Planing: Deep cleaning/scraping under the gums.
Periodontics: The dental specialty associated with the prevention and treatment of gum disease.
Pontic: An artificial tooth used in bridges.
Prosthodontics: The dental specialty limited to the restoration to the natural teeth and/or the replacement of missing teeth.
- Pontic - An artificial toothhused in bridges.
- Abutment - The teeth on either side of a missing tooth. They are the part of the bridge used to support the replacement of the missing teeth.
- Bridge - a fixed partial denture, which is a prosthetic replacement of one or more missing teeth cemented or attached to the abutment teeth or implant abutments adjacent to the space (not removable).
- Partial Denture - usually refers to the prosthetic device that replaces the missing teeth on a framework that can be removed by the patient.
Pulpotomy: Partial or complete removal of damaged dental pulp to relieve pain. A root canal is usually recommended to save the tooth.
Radiograph: X-ray
- Intraoral - Inside the mouth.
- Bitewing - X-ray that shows the upper and lower teeth?s biting surfaces on the same film. Shows the portion of the teeth above the gum line.
Resin Restorations: Tooth colored filling, also known as a Composite filling.
Restoration: Procedures performed to restore the missing part of the teeth.
Root Canal Therapy: A treatment used on a tooth with damaged pulp to stop infection and save the tooth. The pulp is completely removed and the inside of the tooth is sterilized and sealed to prevent infection.
- Anterior - The front teeth.
- Bicuspid - The fourth and fifth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. These are the back teeth that are used for chewing; they only have two cusps.
- Molar - The sixth, seventh, and eighth teeth from the center of the mouth to the back of the mouth. The back teeth with the large chewing surface on top. They have 4 cusps.
Silicate Restorations: See Resin Restorations.
If you have any questions, please call the Hawaii Family Dental Centers nearest you.
| Oahu |
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Maui |
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| Aiea Heights |
488-3775
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Kahului |
877-5328
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| Mililani |
623-7888
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Kihei |
874-8401
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| Restaurant Row |
536-4332
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| Westridge |
488-3368
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Hawaii |
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| Windward Mall |
235-2000
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Hilo |
935-6620
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Kailua-Kona |
329-0025
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| Kauai |
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Waikoloa |
883-9100
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| Kukui Grove |
245-6363
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